Envelop-machine.



E. P. 'WATERHOUSE.

ENVELOF MACHINE.

: 7 APPLICATION FILED DEC. l9. 9P1v I I 1 ,271-,250. Patented July 2, 1918.

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E. P. WATERHOUSE.

ENVELOP MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 19. 19M.

1 ,27 1 ,250Q Patented July 2, 1918.

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E. P. WATERHOUSE.

ENVELOP MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. l9. m4.

1 ,271,250. Patented July 2,1918.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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E. P. WAT-ERHOUSE.

ENVELOP MACHINE) APPLICATION 'FILED DEC. l9, I914;

Patented July 2, 1918.

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E. P. WATERHOUSE.

ENVELOP MACHINE.

APPLICATION men DEC. I9, 1914.

1 ,27 1 ,250. Patnted J u1y2, 1918.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

WW I g m To all whom it may concern UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

zEA P. WATERI-IOUSE, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOE oEoNE-H L To WORCESTER ENVELOPE COMPANY, 0E woEcESTEE, MASSACHUSETTS, A coEroEA- IoNo MASSACHUS TTS.

Be it knownthat I, EZRA PI. lVATERHoUsE,

,a citizen of the United States, residing at i p .parts of an envelop machine with: my im- 'provements combined therewith.

Worcester, in the county of Worcester and State of .Mass'achusetts, have invented cer- "tain new and useful Improvements vin .Envelop-Machines, of whichl thefollowing is fa specification.

My invention relates to envelop machines,

and my invention'particularly relates to the envelop picker mechanism, which operates to pick up an envelop blank preparatory to its being gummed, and to the paper feed mechanism,which operates to raise or feed 'tlie envelop blanks, which are, carried on a table or plate which has vertical up and down movement, to the pickers, preparatory A to being gummed and transferred to the folding box, to be folded inthe usual and 'well known way. J Y

The object of my invent-ion is togi'mprove upon the construction of the mechanisms above referred to, as ordinarily made, and

todo away the feeler mechanismordinarily used forth-e envelop blanks,'and to operate the picker mechanislmandthe paper feed mechanism, by a single cam, and throughjone' rock shaft,land to combine with themech'anism, through which saidshaft is operated, a spring, said spring acting to allo-wiforany variation inthe thickness of the 'blank sheets on the paper feed table.

3 A further object of my inventionfis to combine "with the paper feedimeohanism, mechanism to automatically release the paper feed table, when it reaches its highest position in raising the blanks, and allow said table to drop to its lowest position to receive additional blanks, and simultaneously operate mechanisn i to causethegum box roll to discontinue its rotary" motion, While the blank feed table is in its lowest'lposition, and to continue its rotary motion on the raising of the blank feed table.

- feed mechanism above referred to, the table,

' box rollto 'b'e put into-operation carrying the blanks, when dropped to its lowest position,; 'preparatory to receiving newblanks, automatically puts the b0}; roll'out of operation, andwhen said table moved up it automatically causes the gum all aswill be hereinafter fully tlescribed.

invention consists in certain novel fee arrow. 0, same figure. V

F g. 8 corresponds to ENVELOP-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patelited J 1Y2, 1918. App lica ti on filel 'llecemb er19;1914 ',S eria11 \T o.878,1 2j5.

I have shown inthe drawings detache Referring tolthe drawings 1 A .Flgure lisa front view ofa part ofthe the paper feed table in its raised position;

some of the parts shown at the rightinFig.

1- are notshown this figure. 7 r I Fig.3 is an endview of theparts vshown stand and the frame of an envelop-machine,

andof a paper feed table, and some other parts, with my, improvements combined therewith; the paper feedv table is shown in its lowered position. I r

'Fig. corresponds to Fig. 1, but shows in Fig.v 1, lookingin the directionof arrow a,lsame figure; some parts are shownrinthi-s figure which are not shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an end view of the parts'sho n 1n Flg. 1, looking in the direction of arrow "i'nFig. 1, detached. 9

-Fig. 6 shows, onan enlargedscalgqthe partsshown at the left in-Fig. 5.

-Fig. 7 is a central longitudinal section,-on line 7, 7,. Fig.6, looking in thedirection of some of the parts 'ina difi'erentposition.

1 Fig. 9 isa cross section, on line 9,9, Fig.

6,, looking in thedirection ,of arrow d, same figure.

Zflsame figure; some parts are shown in this Fig; 7,1 t Show.

'IjFig. 10,shows, on fscale,.the

graduated adjusting- :crank" for the paper feed table-shown at the upper part in Fig. l,;and,..' V Fig. 11 is a section,-;on line 11, 1l,, Fig. 10, looking in figure. .1 p y n h ia n y drawines lr s. ap of the frameof an envelop: machine, which is shown broken away, and is permanently the direction 'of arrow 6, ame

att ched to the floor; 2 istlletopi or table of tl1machine,3 is the, archorframe work of the machine, which is secured to; the top. or table ,2, and on wh chiare supported' 'thesev- 1. ,pa'rts 'ofthe envelop inachlne in a A usual and'well known way..

- as the paper or "enacts-tatiaiikieiabi;

which carries the envelop blanks 5, and which hasa vertical up and down movement; the upward movement raising the blanks, preparatary to the top blank being ."bi llf picke i nd ra e f f fi t pile ofblanks, to he 'trafis'fel-i-edto the folding mechanism. H

The blank feed table 4 is guided and has fligr ieel up and down movement in a vertically' extending plateor way 6, secured to the table 2, in the usual way. A 'gib 4 'eX- tends in av recess in the plate 6, see Fig.

- A i'acli barfl' is secured at itsuppl e r to one end'k'if 'th 'table"4,l"Fig. 1,"andi 1s in meshwithandoperatedhy itpiiii'oi 8, Fig. eymnenae-raw 6n tub'ular shaft 9', 7, which shaft i's fiiounted 9. secured to the upriglit plateti.

an extension 8. on thehuh of'the pinvolveii ith, and levee 'sli'ding'niotio i in said hiih extension 8 "inthe direction of the length thereof. The dam 'lO h as a cam projection 10 on its periphery, which extends in the path "of and is adaptd @6159 g sed y a ra 1'; 'm un ed en stand" 1' 2,"'s'ecure d".i n this instance by screws 12 totli e vertiallyextending plate acts to'se'oui'e" the" longitudinally'nioviiig rod 14 to the cam 10, so that the movenient of the cam 10; on the hub extension 8of the pinion in "the direction of the length of said 'eiitension, through the engagement said cam 10, will cause thelongit idinal in ove niit thie' ro d 14;. rod 14 erg l osely With i' h le S efE'Q; to have a longitudinal movement therein, and

V through the pin 13, is caused to rotate with ai u ular s a T113 O t r end f the rod 14 is bent at an angle, as shown at 14; Figs. 7 and 8, and its projecting end is "(aptec'l to e'n ag'e'a lug15""on a handle 15,

nie'imaaie' i as e mkeaen a; whieh is men? i ibufit a' e u l time. h feasted oi terfenid 9' ofthetuhularfshaft eerie mile 15 mire 17 is a toothed surface or disk 18, forming one member of a clutch. On the extended hub 17 of the ratchet 17 is loosely mounted a were ge r 19- The Warm g ar 9 ca e 9. 1 it? 91 w Side 9 ace, en Pi a p whi h is adapted to engage with the teeth of and turn the ratchet 17, and through said ratchet, when it is secured to the tubular shaft 9, turn said tubular shaft and the pinion 8, to move the rack bar 7, which operates the feed table 4.

On the tubular shaft 9 is a collar 21, yi 'hioh is mounted on shaft toli'ave a l ngitudin l nietion the'rl qn," nd t rot i s'i i el e t i means i pl' ne, o shown; 'Qir o herw eh col 21 m e friction or toothed ldisk'22' secured on its inn lgid. 1 1 3%; h h l f it $h id 1116i b er ofth clutch, an'dis ada'pted't'o he moved into. and out o mesh w th h fioeth s face ISpi the Wheel 17, Figs.

A he ically qil d pens e sp in 2 ncircles the" tubular shaft Q, and extends Within arecess in the ratchet Wheel 17, and in the collar 21, and? on the outward met ineiit of the rodle and thehandle 15, as sh own'in Fig. fl/acts tomoye apart the clutch surfaces 18', and 22, as shown 'in site 'le y tlm ratchet fheei i7 and worm gear 19l'0ose on the tubular" shaft 9], to allea: sai ratche Whe a d ge t e W tho t l in Se -eli fi;end it the e time to'allo it sfaid shaft the pinion 8 th're'on' o' iio'tate', allow the Rack h'ar tom ve doiyi fandfcarry. the feedtable 4 to its lewesp pesitiiin' tomafic ny. Wh'i'le the 61mp meeiemis'm 1157111 thispositionfthe p'a'fzer"talole 4 may" be raised or lowene 'e 'i ll' ifiqepemleme said. eliltch m in a liaiid 'Wheel' 24 is fast on the hub extension 21;" of'the Qlut'eh collar 21, (nd when th lutoh' pnar p21 isplutehefe to the ratchet iiiheel 1'7, as ShoWn in Fig. Zaire tubular hje turiiejd hysaifd hand, vheel 24; t9 eaj i'sith'e rdtatf'ion of the initn 8 fa t e aie tabular shaft, and also eause the u am d m inovemeiitoftlierack ban 7' and Tli iqirhig er i communicated thereto," a; cause, tl irou'gli the elig g l nt f e lie- 190. itith he a t iilice'l, 1T,'rotaryinoi'enient of said ratchet Wheel, and also ofth'e ft'iihular shaft 1),, and through intermediate cdmiec izmgf the more dent of the feed'tahle "gt, by worm pinion e25', see Fig. 2," oii "aishaft QB, mounted iii'isuitahleheafings'27.' The shaft 2. he; ne- 'beve ewh h meshes'iivfih the bevel pinion 2.9 fast on a stud shaft 30., see 171g. 6; en is mounted. in; a. 317, 0.1} the end of aiiar n 31, secured to'a stationary part of the naehas a' "rotary movement On the shaft 30 is fast a ratchet wheel 31", which is operated by a pawl 32, mounted on a pin 33,- secured on one end of an arm 34,

which has its hub loosely mounted on the shaft 30. On the other end .ofthe arm 34 is a a stud 35, which is pivotally connected to the the shaft 38 is secured the arm 39, see Fig.

1, said arm 39 being pivotally connected by a link 40, with the lower end of a connector or rod 41. The upper end of the connector 41is pivotally connected, in this instance, with the forked end 42on a collar 42 mounted on a threaded bushing 42, see Fig. 11, which is mounted on a binder screw 42", through which extends an adjusting screw 43,-see Fig. 10. The adjusting screw '43 is mounted to have a rotary movement in a loop shaped crank arm 44, to cause the bushing 42 to move in one direction or the other on the screw 43, to regulate the amount of movement of the paper feed table 4, through intermediateconnections. I

The loop shaped crank arm 44is secured at one end on one end of a shaft 45, mounted in suitable bearings 45' on the upper end of arms 46, secured to the upper part or arch of the frame of the'machine. On the shaft 45 is secured the hub 45 of an arm' 45", the outer end of which is connected with a link, which in turn is connected with the vertically moving plunger, carrying at its lower end flap gummingdies, whichapply the gum to the envelopfiaps, and also act as pickers to raise the envelop blanks, preparatory to the same being carried to the foldingmechanism, all in the usual and well known way. I have not shown herein the vertically moving plunger, carrying the gumming'dies, and connected with and operated throughthe arm'45 my present improvements, and may be of any usual and well known construction, for example of the constructionshownin U. S. Letters Patent No;- -1,161,829, of November 30,1915. I

Through the rocking motion of the shaft 45, and intermediate connections above described, to the worm gear 19,-carrying the pawl 20, a step bystep rotary 'motion is com-1 V municated to the ratchet wheel- 1.7,and to the tubular shaft '9, carrying the pinion 8, which meshes with the rack7, to cause ithe raising or lowering rack Twillnow min mechanism, to" cause the. automatic as the same form no part of the feed table 4; tliroug h the des'ci'ibe the mechanism, -inter'- mediate the blank feed: table and the 'gum 'tl'ieupright rodfi. 9n the starting of the mined times.

In this instance, on the-underside of the paper feed table 4, on the endthereof opposite the supported end of the table, is secured, by bolts 47, a plate 47. The plate 47 carries a roll '48, which in this instance gum box roll, at predeter extends through a cam shaped slot 49 in an arm 49, which has a hub 49" fast on a shaft 50, mounted in suitable bearings 51 011 a stationary part of the machine, see Fig. 3'.

Fast on the shaft 50, to whichis communicated a rocking movement, through the movement of the cam arm 49,0n the raising and lowering of the blank feed'table 4, 1s a hub 51, onwhich is a projection 51, see Fig. 3, which, whenthe envelop blank feed table 4 is dropped and the shaft 50 rocked, through the movement of the cam arm 49, comes into the path of and engages a proj ection 52 on a clutch member 52, to release said clutch, thereby allowing the bevel gear 53, which is loosely mounted on the drlven shaft 54 of the gum box mechanism, to run free, see Fig.5. The'bevel gear 53'meshes with the bevel gear 55 on th dgum box roll 56.

On the dropping of he envelop blank feed table 4, from its raised position to its lowered'position, as shown-in Fig. 1', the

camarm 49 will be moved, from the position Fig. 1, and through the rocking of the shaft 50, will cause the clutchmember 52 to operate the. clutch which secures the bevel gear 53 to the driven shaft 54, torelease said bevel gear and leave it loose on said shaft, and consequently stop the operation of the bevel gear 55, and the rotary motion of the gum box 'roll 56, automatically. The gum box roll 56 will remain stationary while the blank feed table 4 is in its lowered position, but immediately on the upward movement of the blank feed table 4, the cam 49 will'be operated, and cause the clutch 'm'ember to operate to attach the bevel gear 53to the driven shaft 54, and causethe rotary motion of the gum box roll 56,

In my improvements 1' provide a helically coiled expansion spring to allow for any variation in the thickness of the blank sheets at'itsupper en'd'"in .a bearing 59 attachecb to' jthe'frameof the mac'hme,- and has*ai1 elongated loop orqopenn'ig: 58 at its lower;

end, see Fig. 3," through which I extends thef driven cam shaft 60, on-which is secured'the I hub-61" of the'cam 61. The 'canrshaft 60 I hasthe hand wheel 6'0jfast thereon, seerFigQ 4. The cam' 61 has acam trackjth'eren "which extenda injthis nstanc ru icollar 63 on which rests a sleeve 64. A sec- 0nd collar 65 is also fast on the upright rod 58, and the helically coiled expansion spring 57 extends between the collar 65 and the upper end of the movable sleeve 64, see Figs.

'1 and 3. The sleeve 64 carries a stud, on

which is pivotally mounted the lower end of a connector 66; the upper end of said connector 66 is pivotally attached to an arm 67, having its hub 67 fast on the shaft 45, see Figs. 1 and-3.

The rotation of the cam 61 causes the up and down movement of the upright rod 58, and through the sleeve 64, mounted on said rod, the movement of the connector rod 66 and the arm 67, and the shaft 45.

By means of the spring 57, intermediate the sleeve 64 and the collar 65 fast on the upright rod 58, any variation in the thickness of the blank sheets of paper on the feed table is provided for, through the compression of said spring, and also the expansion of said spring.

From the above description in connection with the drawings the operation of my improvements will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

In operating the machine, the blank feed table 4, preparatory to receiving a pile of blanks 5, is dropped or moved downto its lowered position, which is done automatically, or by the operator by moving outwardly the handle 15., as shown in Fig. 8, andcausing the moving apart of the two members 18 and 22 of the clutch mechanism, and leaving the tubular shaft 9 free to be turned in either direction, and then, by turning the hand wheel 24, rotating the tubular shaft 9 and the pinion 8 fast thereon, which, engaging with the rack bar 7, moves the envelop blank feed table 4 up or'down. After the feed table 4 is moved to its-lowest posi- 9 tion, and the pile of blanks'placed thereon,

it may then be movedto the desired height, preparatory-t0 the feeding of a blank to the pickers, by turning the hand wheel 24, and then the handle 15 is pushed inwardly,

as shown in Fig. 7, which causes the inward movement of the, collar 21 and the clutch member 22 through the engagement of the cam surface on the attached end of the han? dle 15 with the end of the collar 21, to cause the clutch member 22 to engage the clutch member 18, to attach the sameto the tubular shaft 9, so that the feed table 4 will be automatically moved upwardly, to'feed the.

blanks 5 to the gumming dies, not shown, through the operation of the cam shaft 60, see Figs. 1 and 3, and intermediate connections to the rack bar 7.]

I The turning ofthe adjusting screw 43, in

one directionor the other, will move the threaded bushing- 42, to vary the amount of movement of the pawl 32, which operates the ratchet wheel, 31, and through; the rm the tubular shaft 9,-and the pinion 8, which operates the rack bar 7 on the feed table 4.

The contraction and expansion of the helically coiled expansion spring 57, allows for any Variation of the thickness of the blank sheets. 3 When, in the continued operation of the machine, the table 4, carrying the blanks 5, reaches its highest position, the roll 48, traveling in the cam slot 49 in the arm 49, from the position shown in Fig. 1 t0 the position shown in Fig. 2, moves the arm 49, and through intermediate connections above described, operates the clutch mechanism, to release the gear 53, Fig. 5, which drives the 'um box roll 56. leavin said gear 53 free on its shaft, and consequently stopping the movement of the gum box roll 56. At the same time, through the engagement of the cam surface 10' on the cam 10, with the roll 11, said cam 10 revolving with the gear 8, and so located on the hub 8 of said gear, and with the cam surface 10 so shaped as to cause its engagement with said roll 11 when the blank feed table 4 reaches its highest position, the cam 10 is moved outwardly, and with it the pin 13, through which it is attached to the rod 14, and also the rod 14 carrying said pin, said pin moving in the cam shaped slot in the tubular shaft 9, and in the hub'S of the pinion 8. The outward movement of the cam 10 and the rod .14, causes the. engagement of the outer end 14 of said rod 14 with the lug 15. on the'handle 15, which causes the outward movement of said handle on its pivot 16, as shown in Fig. 8, and allows the spring 23 tomove apart the clutch members 18 and 22, as shown in Fig.8, and 1e. ve the ratchet wheel 17 and gear 19 free to turn on the tubular shaft 9, and allow the tubular shaft to rotate with the. pinion '8, so that the rack bar 7, and the feedtable 4 may drop down to their lowest position automatically.-

After thepile of blanks are placed on the feed table, the handle 15 is pushed inwardly, to clutch the two clutch members 18 and 22, and attach the hand wheel 24 to the tubular shaft 9, and also to clutch the ratchet. wheel 17 to said shaftythe feed table is thenready to be raised as above described.

It will be understood that the details. of

construction-of 'my improvements may be varied if desired.

.Having thus described my invention, what;

said camv and said shaft, to cause the operat1on,'-through said sheftg' of both theienvelop picker mechanism, and the paper feed mechanism by said cam.

2. In an envelop machine, the combination with a single rock shaft, of a single driven cam, and connections intermediate said cam and said shaft, said connections including a yielding spring, to cause the operation, through said spring and shaft, of the paper feed mechanism, and allow for any variation in the thickness of the blank sheets on the paper feed table of the paper feed mechanism.

3. In an envelop machine, the combination with a single rock shaft, of a single driven cam, and connections intermediate said cam and said rock shaft, said connections including a yielding spring, through which spring a rocking motion is communicated to said shaft from said cam, to allow for any variation in the thickness of the blank sheets on the paper feed table of the paper feed mechanism.

4. In an envelop machine, the combina tion with a rock shaft for operating, through intermediate connections, the paper feed mechanism, of a driven cam, and conn 0- tions intermediate said cam and said r ck shaft, said connections including a yielding, spring, through which spring a rocking motion is communicated tosaid shaft from said cam, to allow for any variation in the thickness of the blank sheets on the paper feed table of the paper feed mechanism.

5. In an envelop machine, the combination with the envelop blank feed table, means for raising and lowering said table, and means to automatically release said feed table when it reaches its highest position, and allow it to drop to its lowest position, of the gum box roll of the gumming mechanism, and means, intermediate said gum box roll and said paper feed table, to cause the gum box roll to automatically discontinue its rotary motion while said feed table is in its lowered position, and to continue its rotary motion on the raising of said feed table.

6. In an envelop machine, the combination with the envelop blank feed table, a rack bar connected with said table for raising and lowering the same, of means for raising and lowering said rack bar, said means comprising a pinion, a tubular shaft carrying said pinion, which pinion has an extension on its hub having a curved or cam shaped slot therein, a cam mounted to rotate with and have a sliding motion on said extension, and means for sliding said cam, a

rod extending within said shaft and having a longitudinal motion therein, a pin on said rod, extending through said curved or cam shaped slot, and secured to said cam, a ratchet wheel loose on said tubular shaft, and means for rotating said ratchet wheel, a clutch member connected with said ratchet wheel, a collar mounted on said shaft and adapted to rotate therewith, and have a longitudinal motion thereon, a clutch memher on said collar, adapted to engage with the clutch member on said ratchet wheel, a spring interposed between said clutch members, said members adapted to be automatically disengaged upon the longitudinal movement of said rod, to'allow the rotary motion of said tubular shaft and pinion, independent of said ratchet wheel, and the lowering of the blank feed table.

7. In an envelop machine, the combination with the envelop blank feed table, and a rack bar connected with said table, for raising and lowering the same, of means for raising and lowering said rack bar, said means comprising a pinion, a tubular shaft carrying said pinion, which pinion has an extension on its hub having a curved or cam shaped slot therein, a cam mounted to rotate with and have a sliding motion on said extension, and means for moving said cam, a rod extending within said shaft, and having a longitudinal motion therein, and a pin on said rod, extending through said curved or cam shaped slot, and secured to said cam, a ratchet wheel loose on said tubular shaft, and means for rotating said ratchet wheel, a clutch member connected with said ratchet wheel, a collar mounted on said shaft and adapted to rotate therewith and have a longitudinal motion thereon, a clutch member on said collar, adapted to engage with the clutch member on said ratchet wheel, a spring interposed between said clutch members, said members adapted to be automatically disengaged upon the longitudinal movement of said rod, to allow the rotary motion of said tubular shaft and said pinion, independent of said ratchet wheel, and the lowering of the blank feed table, and means for moving the clutch members into engagement with each other, to cause the rotary movement of said ratchet wheel, to rotate said tubular shaft and pinion.

EZRA P. WATERHOUSE. Witnesses:

JOHN C. DEWEY, MINNA HAAS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of latents, Washington, D. 0." 

